GHOSTS OF CHRISTMAS SPECIALS PAST GET NEW LIFE ON DVDS.Byline: Chris J. Parker Correspondent The popularity of DVDs has brought many long-gone television shows back to life. From PBS PBS in full Public Broadcasting Service Private, nonprofit U.S. corporation of public television stations. PBS provides its member stations, which are supported by public funds and private contributions rather than by commercials, with educational, cultural, series to ``The Mary Tyler Moore This article is about the actress. For her 1970s television series, also known as "Mary Tyler Moore", see The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Mary Tyler Moore Show,'' studios are rushing to put their old stock on a new format. The same trend is changing the ``holidays'' aisle of local movie rental stores as well. Here are three recently released DVDs that first made their debut on television: ``Robbie the Reindeer in Hooves of Fire'' BBC Video (Warner Home Video Warner Home Video is the home video unit of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group, a division of Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc. It was founded in 1978 as WCI Home Video (for Warner Communications, Inc.). It was re-named Warner Home Video in 1980. ) $14.98 DVD DVD: see digital versatile disc. DVD in full digital video disc or digital versatile disc Type of optical disc. The DVD represents the second generation of compact-disc (CD) technology. , $9.94 VHS (Video Home System) A half-inch, analog videocassette recorder (VCR) format introduced by JVC in 1976 to compete with Sony's Betamax, introduced a year earlier. Time: 30 min. Rating: Three and one half stars Produced by the same Brits who gave the world ``Chicken Run'' and ``Wallace and Gromit,'' ``Robbie'' deserves a spot in the entertainment center next to the other holiday classics: ``Rudolph,'' ``Grinch'' and ``Charlie Brown.'' ``Robbie'' originally aired in Great Britain and then on cable networks in the States to little fanfare. That's too bad "That's Too Bad" is the debut single by Tubeway Army, the band which provided the initial musical vehicle for Gary Numan. It was released in February 1978 by independent London record label Beggars Banquet. , because despite its short running length, ``Robbie'' tells a full, compelling story with wit and humor that will entertain every family member. Rudolph's son isn't exactly a chip off the old red-nosed block; Robbie is overweight and lazy and more interested in meeting female reindeer than pulling Santa's sleigh sleigh: see sled. . But with the help of Donner and a crusty ol' trainer, Robbie learns the importance of hard work and talent. Forget Rudolph; Robbie's father should have been Rocky Balboa. Like its brethren, ``Robbie'' comes to life via animated clay models. Even after the success of ``Chicken Run'' and ``Wallace and Gromit'' it's still impressive to see how lifelike Aardman Animations makes its creations. This is years ahead of Rankin-Bass' ``Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer'' claymation - literally and figuratively. The behind-the-clay cast for ``Robbie'' includes Jane Horrocks (``Chicken Run'') as Donner and pop star Robbie Williams as the narrator NARRATOR. A pleader who draws narrs serviens narrator, a sergeant at law. Fleta, 1. 2, c. 37. Obsolete. . The music is written by Mark Knopfler of the rock band Dire Straits. The DVD includes a few significant bonuses: a ``making-of'' featurette and a director commentary. ``Arthur's Perfect Christmas'' Sony Wonder $12.98 DVD and VHS Time: 60 min. Rating: Two and one half stars Arthur and his friends each search for a perfect Christmas. They eventually discover that perfect is sometimes very different than ideal in this warm, charming special from the PBS animated show. Arthur wants to give his mom the perfect Christmas gift. Muffy wants to host the perfect Christmas party. Buster wants to have the perfect Christmas with his mom. Perfect is hard to come by, but everyone's happy in the end. Meanwhile, Arthur - and viewers - learn more about Hanukkah and Kwanzaa than has probably ever been revealed in a movie titled, ``Perfect Christmas.'' The lessons are not heavy-handed, nor are they pandering. In fact, the message of inclusiveness rings especially clear during this holiday season. ``Arthur's Perfect Christmas'' continues to be rebroadcast each December, yet the DVD offers no bonus features to entice buyers. Apparently, ``Arthur's'' marketers believe Arthur-on-demand is enough to generate sales. They're probably right. ``Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol'' Classic Media $14.98 DVD, $9.98 VHS Time: 47 min. Rating: One star The only thing classic about this is its age. Forty years after ``Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol'' was first broadcast on television, it remains an odd, unentertaining version of Charles Dickens' tale of Scrooge. The story is universally familiar, though this animated telling of it is a bit warped. Magoo - who starred in more than 40 cartoon shorts as a nearly blind bumbler - plays himself acting in a stage play of ``Christmas Carol.'' This allows Magoo to do his usual pratfalls and near-disasters before and after the ``play'' without ruining the sanctity of the ``Christmas Carol'' story itself. The creators of this film ruined it instead. The animation is minimalistic to the point of boring. The score and original songs are instantly forgettable for·get·ta·ble adj. Fit or apt to be forgotten: a movie with very forgettable characters. Adj. 1. forgettable - easily forgotten unforgettable - impossible to forget . And why did the creators think it would be OK if Magoo was visited by the ghost of Christmas present Ghost of Christmas Present the Scrooge’s second monitor; spirit presenting present. [Br. Lit.: A Christmas Carol] See : Ghost before he's visited by the ghost of Christmas past Ghost of Christmas Past the Scrooge’s first monitor; spirit presenting past. [Br. Lit.: A Christmas Carol] See : Ghost ? Who knows. Jim Backus provides the voice of Magoo, as he did in the cartoon shorts. His mumbling mum·ble v. mum·bled, mum·bling, mum·bles v.tr. 1. To utter indistinctly by lowering the voice or partially closing the mouth: mumbled an insincere apology. is top-notch, but when Magoo breaks out into song, it makes viewers wonder whether the old man is tone deaf as well. The DVD's bonus features seem as shallow as the creativity of the movie itself. Histories/biographies of Mr. Magoo, Backus, composer Julie Styne and lyricist lyr·i·cist n. A writer of song lyrics. Also called lyrist. Noun 1. lyricist - a person who writes the words for songs lyrist Bob Merrill are short written statements rather than featurettes or mini-documentaries. That makes the bonus section yet another thing that most children won't sit through on this DVD. CAPTION(S): 3 photos Photo: (1 -- 3) no caption (DVD covers) |
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